Media & Diversity

1. Media & Diversity Dr. Inas A.Hamid

2. The powerful influence of the media on our societies is well known – it shapes our views and our behavior. Although the media often aggravate divisions in society, exclude moderate and minority voices, and foment conflict, they also possess an enormous capacity to contribute to the solution of these very problems. Shape opinions Media influence Affect behavior Encourage divisions Exclude minority voices Foment conflict Solve these problems Media diversity

3. The media too often promote prejudice and stereotypes or spread inaccurate and misleading information, intentionally or through ignorance, which can lead to discrimination, inequality, intolerance and eventually disputes and violent conflict at the local, national, regional or international level. Media diversity aims to change this and to prevent tensions and conflicts occurring, turning the media instead into a tool for strengthening human rights and democracy.

4. Often diversity is poorly covered not because of particular political agendas, but because journalists are unaware of its implications, or are not professionally equipped to address the issues effectively. In addition, media organizations are often operating within economic constraints that make it difficult to balance the duty to reflect social diversity fairly with the need to retain sizeable mainstream audiences.

5. Journalists and media organizations hold a unique power to shape our experience of diversity. Through their actions, they can help: • diverse communities gain visibility and acceptance. • They can overcome misunderstanding and division among different groups and cultures.

6. People experience diversity in many ways: race, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religious belief, age, income, and so on. Diversity can inspire social and economic progress, vibrant communities, and a richness of life. It aims to prevent the media from intentionally or unintentionally spreading prejudice, intolerance and hatred which can lead to social tensions, disputes and violent conflict. Media diversity encourages instead, fair, accurate, inclusive and sensitive media coverage in order to promote understanding between different groups and cultures.

7. Case Study (Dr. RashaAbdallah): Media diversity in the media coverage of the presidential elections 2012 • The study analyze the content of : • 5308 news stories about elections in 4 newspapers(El-Ahram, El-Akhbar, El-Masryelyoum and El-Sherouk). • Talk-shows programs; بلدنا بالمصري ، مباشر من مصر ، العاشرة مساء • Evening news on channel “1” of the national TV and Nile news and Egyptian Satellite Channel. • The analysis was one week before and one week after the first and second round of the Egyptian presidential elections.

8. Findings • Press coverage Ignored important issues including issues related to women , children, the elderly , religious minorities , ethnic minorities and people with disabilities. • The analysis showed females constitute only 6.5% of the total number of individuals who have been interviewed. • This ratio has improved slightly in the television coverage as the women making to14.5% and average so up to one female for every 7 males.

9. Analysis revealed a significant improvement in terms of geographic diversity to cover the presidential election, where no longer coverage focused on Cairo in absolute terms, but has expanded to cover all governorates of Egypt.

10. The voices of other minorities are almost non-existent in the press coverage. Have been identified only14 persons of different ethnic origins, such as Nubians in the 20312 individuals who responded in Stories. There was also only 37 persons have been identified as persons with disabilities, and 23 were Identified as expatriates, and 36 children. These figures ringing alarm, especially when you know the actual proportions of these groups in Egyptian society.

11. Severe shortage has been observed in the representation of all minority groups in the television coverage of the presidential election. In addition, the limited choice of narrow and guests from among a small group of "stars" talk shows form a threat to the diversity of thought and expression.